Detachable mainspring for clocks.



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A. ASLESON.

DETACHABLE MAINSPRING FOR CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1915.

Patented Feb; 22, 1916.

Fig-.1.

WITNESSES: l/VVE/V TOR F 7 AAsleso J 9 n BY' 2 1s 6 ATTORNEY A'LBIilR-TASLESON, OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA.

DETACHABLE MAINSPRING FOR CLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application filed May 12-, 1915. Serial No. 27,605.

To all u; ham it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT AsLnsoN, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Redwood Falls, in thecounty of Redwood and State of Minnesota, have invented a new andImproved Detachable Mainspring rangement whereby themain spring of aclock may be removed without disturbing the remaining part of the worksof the clock.

Another object of the invention is to provide removable supports for theshaft of the main spring of a clock whereby the shaft and the mainspring may be bodily removed without molesting the adjustment orposition of the other parts of the clock.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view ofpart of a clock showing the main spring and associated parts andremovable means embodying the invention for holding the spring in place;Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 3 partly on line 22; Fig. 3 is asectional view through Fig. 1 on line 3-3; Fig. 4: is a detailfragmentary sectional view through Fig. 1 on line 4-4; Fig. 5 is afragmentary top plan View of one of the plates forming part of the frameof the clock; Fig. 6 is an inverted detail perspective view of one ofthe retaining'plates adapted to fit in the notch shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7is an inverted detail perspective view of the retaining hook washershown in Fig. I.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the topplate of a clock of any suitable construction and 2 the bottom plate,the same forming part of the frame which is common to all clocks, saidframe being designed to hold the various works in proper position. Theparticular construction and arrangement of plates 1 and 2 form no partof the present invention except the notch 3'shown in Fig. 5 and thenotch 1 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereby the retaining plate 5may be removed or applied at will and also the hook washer 6 may belikewise applied and removed as well. The spring 7 is of the usual typeand has one end secured in any suitable manner to a shaft 8 while theopposite end is provided with a loop fitting over the standard 9 in theusual manner. Shaft 8 is journaled at the lower end in plate 2, whilethe upper end is journaled in any suitable way to plate 5. Plate 5 isprovided with a tubular section 10 fitting into the notch 3 while theoverhanging flange 11 fits on the surface of the plate 1, as shown inFig. 3. Plate 5 is provided with a body 12 adapted to fit against theouter surface of plate 1 while the tongue or thickened portion 13 fitsin the notch 3. A plurality of retaining screws 14 are provided whichextend through suitable apertures in the body 12 and into plate 1 so asto hold plate 5 against movement.

In forming the invention the aim is to provide means which may bereadily adj usted or operated so that the main spring of a clock may bequickly and easily applied and removed without molesting the remainingpart of the works of the clock and without taking the plates 1 and 2apart. By providing plate 5 and screws 11 means are provided which whenreleased may be moved so as to swing the shaft 8 slightly to one sideand thereby unhook or disconnect the flange 11 from plate 1, which willallow the shaft to be raised until the lower end is disconnected fromplate 2. In order to hold the spring 7 properly in place a retainingguard ring 15 is provided which will prevent the expansion of the springbeyond a certain extent. After the shaft 8 has been removed as set forththe spring 7 and wheel 16 with associated parts may be bodily removedwith the exception of the loop fitted over the post or standard 9. Inorder to remove this loop standard 9 is connected in the usual mannerwith the bottom plate 2, the connection being somewhat loose when nut 17is somewhat unscrewed.

The upper end of the standard 9 extends through the plate 1 and is heldin position by member 6 which is provided with a hook 18 and a fillingblock 19, filling block 19 filling the aperture 4 while hook 18 preventsthe hooked washer 6 from moving, a suitable nut being mounted on thestandard and pressing against member 6. \Vhen the nut 20 is appreciablyunscrewed or removed the hook member 6 may be moved out of place so asto allow standard 9 to swing away from plate 1 a sufficient distance forpermitting the loop 7 on spring 7 to slip ofl of the standard, thusentirely freeing the spring 7 and associated parts from the frame of theclock and the various works therein. After the spring has been removedthe same may be repaired or a new one substituted and replaced quicklywithout molesting in the least any of the remaining parts of the clockThis arrangement of parts prevents the necessity of readjusting 'thebalance wheel, hair spring and other parts when a new main spring, issubstituted for an old one. It is evident that a plate 5 could bearranged at both ends of the shaft 8, if desired, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, though only one plate is shown asordinarily this is sufficient.

What I claim is In a device of the character described, the combinationwith a clock provided with a frame, a standard, and Works mounted insaid frame, said frame being formed of a pair of plates, one of saidplates being provided with a notch adapted to receive one end of saidstandard, said standard being adapted to be connected with one end ofthe spring of said clock, a hook member having a pair of depending hookportions, said hook member being arranged on said standard with one hookportion fitting into said notch and the other hook portion overlappingpart of said frame, and a clamping member engaging said standard andpressing against said hook member for preventing the same from becomingdisengaged from said frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALBERT ASLESON. Witnesses A. C. DOLLIFF, HILMA NELSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

